Fire-proof floor



(No Model.)

0. G. GILMAN.

FIRE PROOF FLOOR.

Patented Mar. 23, 1886.

N. PETERS. Pmmqm mr. Washington. 0.6

NIIED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES CARROLL GILMAN, OF ELDORA, -IO\VA.

FIRE-PROOF FLOOR.

SPECIFECATIUFIJ forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,510, dated March23, 1886.

Application filed March 18, IP85. Serial No. 159,283. (No model.)

.To all whom, it may cancer/t;

Be it known that I, CHARLES CARROLL GILMAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, re

siding at Eldora, Hardin county, Iowa have invented a new and usefulImprovement in the Construction of Fire-Proof Floors, of which thefollowing is a specification.

- My invention relates to improvements in the construction of fire-prooffloors and roofs, the beams and rafters whereof are of iron or steel;and it consists in the combination of such ametal frame-work withterra-cotta lumber or porous burned-brick material'applied ashereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a per spective View of a fire-proof floor embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail View of the beam-protectingstrip and the means for holding the same in position. Fig. 3 representsa floor as commonly constructed with voussoir-blocks of hollow pottery.

The fire-proof floors of iron-framed buildings are at present generallyconstructed as illustrated in Fig. 3. In such construction the ironI-beams A, twelve inches in depth, are placed five feet apart. The spacebetween the said beams is filled with voussoir-blocks of hollow potteryB, bonded together with a stiff mortar of lime or cement. The uppersurface of said blocks is a considerable distance below the uppersurface of said beams, and in this space between the beams is spread alayer of rough concrete, 0, as shown in said figure. To construct such afloor, a platform or support is erected on a level with the undersurface of the iron beams to temporarily sup port the voussoir-blocks,and as these are placed in position they are cemented together by athick layer of mortar. The said support or platform must remain inposition until the mortar or cement has hardened, which takes from sixto ten weeks, according to the condition of the atmosphere, for untilthen the soconstructed arch cannot maintain itself in position, muchless sustain a weight thereupon. The voussoir-blocks, owing to theirdensity, are of great weight and are good conductors of heat, so thatwhile such a floor is incombustible, it will, if subjected to greatheat, explode or disintegrate, and thus imperil the .which illustrate myinvention, D designates the iron beams supported byiron girders. (Notshown.) Said beams are of the usual I form in cross-section, have adepth of about ten inches, and are placed five feet apart from center tocenter. Between said beams I lit what I designate joists, of terracottalumber or of a porous burned-brick material. Said joists have a depth oftwelve inches, or two inches in excess of the depth of the iron beams,and are so constructed and arranged as to project one inch above the topand the same distance below the bottom flange of said beams. Each joistconsists of three parts, two haunches, F F, and a key, H.

The joists may be divided into a greater number of parts; but as thematerial thereof can be made in long pieces and can be sawed to effecttightfittingjoints, the division into three parts affording greaterstrength, is preferred. The ends of the haunches which abut against thebeams are, preferably, given the proper form, while the material ofwhich they are made is in a plastic state, though this may be donesubsequently to firing, since the material can then be readily workedwith edged tools. The opposite ends of the haunches,as also the opposingends of the key,are sawed diagonally to the proper angle after thematerial has been burned, so as to insure closely-fitting joints.

The sections composing the joist can be out or trimmed by the use ofedged tools to the exact size required, and the parts can be duplicatedso exactly as to be interchangeable. The said joists are placed side byside, so as to touch each other and fill the space between the beams.They can be rapidly placed in po' sition in the following manner: Thehaunches are first adjusted to the iron beams, and their free endssupported by a platform or temporary scaffolding erected from the floorbelow.

The keyis then inserted between the haunches from above and drivenfirmly into position by the use of a heavy mallet.

To obviate the tendency of the key to draw too or rebound (whichoccasionally happens) when being driven to place, I preferably apply avery thin layer of lime, mortar, or cement or melted asphaltum to theimpinging edges thereof.

Owing to slight inaccuracies in the adj ustment of the beams, whichcannot be guarded against, it occasionally occurs that the key, afterhaving been driven firmly into place, will project below the haunches tothe extent of about aninch, (more or less,) andin order that thekey maynot be impeded in its downward movement theplatform supportingthehaunches must be so arranged and placed as not to interferetherewith. The projecting part of the key may subsequently be trimmedoff with an adz.

The blocks composing the sectional joists may be solid or hollow andfrom three to six inches in width.

To perfectly fire-proof the top and bottom of the iron beams I applythereto the beveled protecting-strips I, which match the beveledhauuches F, and are fastened thereto by nails These protecting-stripsare about one inch in thickness, formed of the same material as the saidjoists. A lumber floor may be laid upon and nailed to said joists, and aceiling of plaster applied without the use oflaths.

As the terra-cotta lumber weighs much less than the voussoir blocks ofhollow pottery, iron beams of lighter construction may be employed, andas the said material is a very bad conductor of heat it is proof againstthejoint action of fire and water, and thus completely protects the ironbeams from the action of said elements. The cost of said material andthat of erection is considerably less than that of the constructionfirst described. Such a floor may be profitably erected in cold weather,and is ready for the application of boards I and plaster M, immediatelyafter erection, which is a work of carpentry rather than masonry, forits retention in position is not dependent upon the hardening of mortarjoints. The thin film of mortar, which I preferably employ, does notperform the function of an ordinary mortar-joint, as in the floor ofvoussoir-bloeks, but serves to prevent rebound of the key. If it servedthe function of a mortar joint it would be necessary to await thehardening of the same before removing the support, which in practice isnot done, for the support is generally removed immediately after thejoists are in position.

The construction herein described may also be employed in theconstruction of roofs of iron-framed buildings.

The expression or term terracotta lumber, as used in the specifiationand claims, is to be understood as including any porous November 26,1872, and what is shown and 1 described in said patents I herebydisclaim.

Having fully described my invention,whatI desire to claim and secure byLetters Patent- 1. The combination ofiron beams with sectional joists ofa porous burned-brick material, said joists consisting of three blocks,the opposing edges of which have been sawed to the proper angle, and areclosely fitted together without the intervention of the ordinary mortarjoint, substantially as described.

2. The combination ofiron beams with sectional joists of a porousburned-brick material, said joists projecting beyond the top and bottomof said beams, and each joist consisting of three blocks, the opposingedges of which have been sawed to the proper angle, and which blocks areclosely fitted together without the intervention of the ordinary mortarjoint, and protecting strips applied to the upper and lower surface ofsaid beams and secured to said joists, substantially as described. j

3. The combination of iron beams with blocks of fireproofing materialoccupying the space between said beams, said blocks proj ecting beyondthe top and bottom thereof, and protecting-strips applied to the top andbottom of said beams and secured to said blocks, substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination of iron beams with blocks of fireproofing materialoccupying the space between said beams and projecting be yond the topand bottom thereof, and having beveled corners adjacent thereto, andbeveled protecting-strips laid on the top and bottom of said beams andsecured to said blocks, sub stantially as described.

5. The combination of iron beams with sectional joists of fireproofin gmaterial supported between the same and projecting beyond the top andbottom thereof, protectingstrips covering the top and bottom of saidbeams and secured to said sectional joists, and with a floor applied tothe top and a ceiling of plaster to the bottom of said strips andjoists, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHARLES CARROLL GILMAN.

Vitnesses:

EDMUND RICE, CHARLES CARROLL.

IIO

